Cheistophee bopp



O. BOPP.-

CAN STOPPEB.

(No Model.)

o. 358,959. Pate nte d Mar. 8, 1887.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER BOPP, OF BROOKLYN, NFAV YORK.

CAN-STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,959, dated March 8,1887.

Application filed January 4,1887. Serial No.221409. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER BOPP, of Brooklyn,(Green Point,) Kingscounty, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement Relating to Can- Stoppers, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention is intended more particularly for petroleum-cans-thefive-gallons cans, of rectangular section, which are extensively used instoring and transporting kerosene. I have discovered that the circularhole provided in the plane sheet of metal in the end of such can may beefiectually closed and kept tightly closed by inserting an expansiblehollow plug, with provisions for allowing the fluid to act on theinterior and extend it. I will describe it as a hollow piece of softvulcanized rubber opening into the interior of the can. The form isspecially adapted for retaining it reliably in place under allconditions, and for conveniently removing it when required.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, andrepresent what I consider the best means of carrying out the in vention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a large portion of a rectangularkerosene-can provided with my invention. 'Fig. 2 is a section of the canand plug separate. Fig. 3 is a corresponding section, showing the plugin position and serving as a stopper for a can. Figs. 4 and 5 show astopper detached. Fig. 4 is a view of the inner face, and Fig. 5 an edgeview.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they occur.

A is an ordinary petroleuincan, and a the ordinary hole in the planesheet of thin metal constituting one end.

My stopper is a single piece of rubber.

B is a short tube or hollow cylinder having, when free, an externaldiameter a little greater than that of the hole a, which it is to close.B is a disk which closes the outer end of this tube. B is the flange orextension of this disk B on the exterior of B.

On the inner end of the short tube B is an internal lip or flange, B",extending inward, and an external flange, B, extending outward.

My stopper may be cheaply and rapidly formed by supplying the materialinto suitable molds and vulcanizing in the ordinary manner. There may bea grade-mark or a trade-mark, or both, on the outer face, if desired.

After a can is filled with the fluid the inner portion of my stopper iscompressed together by the fingers, and by a simple movement introducedthrough the hole a and liberated and forced gently inward until itsflange B arrests it. The plug expands by its own elasticity. bringingthe exteriorof the tubular portion B into contact with the edge of thehole. The can is now effectually plugged. The elasticity of the stopperallows it to yield when it is brought in contact with another can, orwith any hard object presented against the exterior. It can thus yieldeven to the extent of being flattened closely against the can withoutdisturbing its seat. Any pressure of the fluid in the endeavor to escapeis exerted by its action against the interior of the disk B to drive theplug outward by a direct outward movement. and also by entering itshollow interior and acting radially therein to expand or increase thediameter of the tube B. The pressure in both directions tends to tightenthe stopper. The axial movement brings the flange 13* into tight contactwith the inner face of the can. The radial expansion tends to force theinte rior of the tube B into still tighter contact with the inner edgeof the metal around the hole.

To remove the plug the can is set on end with its plugged end uppermost.The stopper is seized by its flange B by grasping any convcnient portionby the thumb and fingers, or by any suitable appliance. A sufficientpulling force thus applied induces a collapse of the inner end of thetube B and permits the withdrawal of the entire device.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle orsacrificing the advantages of the invention.

Parts of the invention may be used without the whole. I can dispensewith the outer flange, B; but I prefer to retain this as a safeguardagainst dropping the stopper entirely through the hole into the can, andalso as a convenient means of grasping the stopper when it is desired toremove it. The internal flange, B*, may be omitted; but I prefer toretain it as contributing to the elastic expansive action of the innerend of the stopper. This is most important when, from theuprightposition of the can and the absence of any vapor, there is nopressure in the interior of the plug to swell it.

I believe that gutta-percha and other elastic materials which possessthe requsite qualities, and can be molded or otherwise brought to therequired form, may be employed instead of rubber.

I claim as my invention- 1. An expansible plug or stopper composed ofrubber or analogous elastic material, having the hollow cylinder orshort tube B, outer disk, B, and flange B*, adapted to serve as hereinspecified.

CHRIST. 'BOPP.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES R. SEARLE, M. F. BOYLE.

